Hiked for the first time in February. LOTS of snow up there. Did again with my little brother. It was his first mountain. There was enough snow to nail down standing glissades on the trail over half the way down the mountain. Loved the scrambling sequence right before the summit!

Came from S. Mesa en route to doing the double with S. Boulder and then down Shadow. Great day, sunny and although the winds were supposed to be gusting it was only a little breezy. Fern Canyon is probably the steepest sustained trail I've ever hiked, but the final approach to the summit, the last 100 yards or so coming out of the trees is truly awesome (and a relief!).

Wow, I still remember a lot of the botany of the Rockies! Great hike on a beautiful, albeit windy day!!! Was so cold at the top that I had to switch hands after every bite while eating my almost frozen sandwich!!